Suicide bombing at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan kills four and injures 17

According to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, two US service members and two US contractors died after a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device inside Bagram Airfield. 16 US service members and one Polish soldier were injured in the blast. Those killed and wounded were waiting to participate in the Veteran’s Day 5 K run. The bomb detonated near the dining hall at approximately 05:00 to 05:30 am local time.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack via Twitter and claimed the attack had been planned for over four months.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said the bomber managed to enter the base with explosives and detonate himself among American service members who were in the midst of doing their morning exercise.- ABC News

The New York Times stated that the suicide bomber entered the base in a group of workers.

The attacker entered on foot hidden among a group of workers reporting for duty at Bagram Air Base early in the morning, said Abdul Wahid Sediqi, spokesman for the governor of Parwan Province, where the military base and airfield are. Once inside the base, the attacker detonated explosives, Mr. Sediqi said.- New York Times

I am deeply saddened to learn that an explosion early this morning at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan has resulted in U.S. casualties. An apparent suicide bomber has taken the lives of two U.S. service members and two U.S. contractors working on the base. The explosion wounded 16 other U.S. service members and one Polish soldier participating in our NATO mission. I want to express my sincere condolences to the families of the fallen, and I want to reassure the loved ones of those injured that they are getting the best possible care. Force protection is always a top priority for us in Afghanistan, and we will investigate this tragedy to determine any steps we can take to improve it. For those who carried out this attack, my message is simple. We will not be deterred in our mission to protect our homeland and help Afghanistan secure its own future.

Image courtesy of Reuters

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About the Author

Desiree Huitt
Desiree Huitt is an Army Veteran serving 11 years as a Military Intelligence officer and prior to OCS as a combat medic. She is a graduate from the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Middle Eastern Studies.

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Susan B

I cannot imagine the profound grief and anger and frustration that must be affecting not only their teammates but all our war fighters over there. May our God, the God of comfort and mercy, reach out to all those impacted by this tragedy.

Michael S

I would think it would be really be difficult, since they are restricted by fenced pathways and turnstiles, and they go through multiple Afghan security points, and those guys take their job pretty seriously... even if one guy might get paid off, they are always in pairs and there are multiple checkpoints, not to mention the various technology we employ there.... then they get checked out physically by whatever partner nation we are working with... Georgian while I was there, and sometimes US at the end. Without getting into too much detail (every Afghan who comes to base in the morning is aware of what I've said so far), it would be very difficult to bypass the security procedures or get through with a bomb. I'm sure the South Africans in charge of the Afghan security are crapping their pants right now, though. :(

Irene B

This is just too sad, my prayers to all their families and friends.

Joni S

My prayers to all those killed and injured by this attack. My heart goes out to these families. I know all those on Bagram base have a heightened sense of awareness and are mourning the loss of these brave warriors. I hope they can figure out how he got past security and into where he could do the most harm.

Desiree Huitt

Hopefully they can figure out exactly how he made it on base and who may have helped him through the process.